The reason for urgency is that scientists are locked in a disturbing
race, not just to match
genes with disease, but also
genes with
every aspect of behavior. There are huge legal implications -
what if we find a gene for criminality? Some say we already have.
Some criminals on death row in America are already pleading bad
genes as a defence against murder.
The entire
population of Iceland is being tested for their
genes,
matched against
medical records. If extended, the study
could reveal darker secrets - perhaps gene patterns in those who
rape or steal, or the exceptionally musical, intelligent, athletic,
hot-tempered or extrovert.
Many social scientists claim it's nonsense to link genes with
behavior - that we are more than bags of biodata, formed mainly
by early experience. However we now know from studies of
adopted children, twins separated from birth, and recent gene
testing that much of what we become really is in our genes.
The lesson of history is that whatever can be done will be done,
somewhere, sometime by someone. By 2010 expect parents in some
countries to start testing embryos for "good personalities" before
implanting them, or foetuses with a view to destroying all but
the most promising. By 2015 expect some companies to start
pre-job gene screening for personality and other traits unless
blocked by law.
We already know certain
genes can be associated with sensation-seeking,
high-risk behaviors and are often found in those addicted to alcohol,
heroin
or gambling.
Recently we learned that
these so-called addictive genes may be more common in the Chinese.
Is this going to feed racial hatred or
genetic discrimination?
Should they have
genetic screening and if necessary be warned
of the dangers of alcohol?
Should people with "bad" genes be excluded from working in pubs?
Could someone sue for alcoholism if their boss knowingly puts
them behind a bar?
And what about genes linked to extreme antisocial behavior?
Whose fault is it when a child stabs another child to death?
What if we find that 25% of those with certain genes land up in
prison for violence before they are twenty five years old?
Some years ago there was a suggestion - later disputed - that
scientists had found a "gay" gene that made homosexual
orientation more likely. Many gay men and women were horrified
at the thought that the discovery - true or imagined - could lead
to selective abortion on a massive scale.
Then they said that no one would want to clone a baby. Wrong again.
Many of the millions of hits on my website each year come from
sad people wanting
human cloning for themselves, partners or dead
children. The results will be grotesque monsters with severe malformations,
and emotional disaster for children lucky enough to be born healthy.
Gene specialists are the opposite of computer geeks. Bill Gates
is forever hyping the future. When he says it's here we
all know we'll have to wait. But geneticists tend to do
the opposite. When the work is all but complete, many of
them will tell you it's almost impossible.
So the real question you need to ask is not what headlines you
will hear about next week, but what headlines will there be in
2003 describing work done in 2001?
The first
selection tests for intelligence or personality will undoubtedly
be secret. A likely target will be
IVF programmes in other
countries. The biggest adoption programme in history is
underway to find wombs for 100,000 frozen surplus
IVF embryos
in America. Imagine how keen some parents might be to make sure
they get the best embryos.
ミッションはに、あなたのようにべたりんだりするで々はどもWenruゆう、いでいっぱいのはんではがにのいを、てのにくといました